Ruben Safrastyan: Armenian-Turkish protocols ratification process frozen

April 14, 2010 - 16:13 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations has hit a deadlock, according to professor Ruben Safrastyan, director of the RA NAS Institute of Oriental Studies.

“The United States and Turkey are just haggling and the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Washington is a part of this haggle,” he told reporters on April 14. “Some progress may be expected if Ankara wrings concessions from the U.S. Nevertheless, the protocols will not be completely ratified.

Commenting on Armenian President's visit to Washington, prof. Safrastyan said that Armenia won't make concessions either over Karabakh or the Armenian Genocide issue.

“Official Yerevan appears as a reliable partner, unlike Ankara,” he said.

Asked whether U.S. President Barack Obama may use the term Genocide in his April 24 address, prof. Safrastyan said he doesn’t exclude such a possibility.

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, 45 U.S. states, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Venezuela, Slovakia, Syria, Vatican, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.

The Armenian-Turkish Protocols

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

Commenting on the CC ruling, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “it contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the Protocols.” ”The decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach cannot be accepted on our part. Turkey, in line with its accustomed allegiance to its international commitments, maintains its adherence to the primary provisions of these Protocols. We expect the same allegiance from the Armenian government,” the Ministry said.